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HE  FLYING  JTA6 PLAY/     IW26 


HE  *TLAVE  WITH 
WO  FACEJ* 


NEW  YORK 


THE    FLYING    STAG    PLAYS 

For     The     Little     Theatre 

No.  6 


THE 
SLAVE  WITH  TWO  FACES 


COPYRIGHT,    1918,    BY 

EGMONT   ARENS. 

ALL  RIGHTS  RESERVED. 


The  professional  and  amateur  stage  rights  on 
this  play  are  strictly  reserved  by  the  author.  Ap 
plications  for  permission  to  produce  the  play 
should  be  made  to  Egmont  Arens,  17  West  8th 
Street,  New  York. 

While  it  is  hoped  that  the  publication  of  the 
plays  in  this  series  will  encourage  their  produc 
tion  in  all  parts  of  the  country,  it  is  held  that  the 
interests  of  the  New  Theater  movement  can  best 
be  served  by  vigorous  protection  of  the  play 
wrights,  without  whom  the  movement  cannot  go 
forward. 

Therefore,  any  infringements  of  the  author's 
rights  will  be  punished  by  the  penalties  imposed 
under  the  United  States  Revised  Statutes,  Title 
60,  Chapter  3. 

THE  PUBLISHER. 


7 he  SLAVE  WITH  TWO 

FACES  v  v  An  Allegory 
in  One  Act  by  Mary  Carolyn 
Davies  v  v  as  played  by  the 
Province  town  Players. 


Published  by  EGMONT  ARENS  at  the 

Washington  Square  Bookshop  v  New  York 
1918 


THE  SLAVE  WITH  TWO  FACES 

was  first  produced  by  the  Provincetown  Players 
at  the  Playwrights'  Theatre,  New  York,  on  Janu 
ary  25th,  1918,  with  the  following  cast: 

LIFE,  THE  SLAVE Ida  Rauh 

FIRST  GIRL      . Blanche  Hays 

SECOND  GIRL Dorothy  Upjohn 

A  WOMAN Alice  MacDougal 

A  MAN O.  K.  Liveright 

A  YOUNG  MAN       ....  Hutchinson  Collins 

A  WORKMAN O.  K.  Liveright 

OTHERS 

Scene  designed  by  Norman  Jacobson.  Produced 
under  the  direction  of  Nina  Moise.  Incidental 
music  written  and  played  by  Alfred  Kreymborg. 


THE  SLAVE  WITH  TWO  FACES 

The  scene  is  a  wood  through  which  runs  a  path. 
Wild  rose  bushes  and  other  wood-things  border  it. 
On  opposite  sides  of  the  path  stand  two  girls 
waiting.  They  have  not  looked  at  each  other. 
The  girls  wear  that  useful  sort  of  gown  which, 
with  the  addition  of  a  crown,  makes  a  queen — 
without,  makes  a  peasant.  The  first  girl  wears  a 
crown.  The  second  carries  one  carelessly  in  her 
hand. 

FIRST  GIRL 

[Looking  across  at  the  other.] 
For  whom  are  you  waiting? 

SECOND  GIRL 
I  am  waiting  for  Life. 

FIRST  GIRL 
I  am  waiting  for  Life  also. 

SECOND  GIRL 

They  said  that  he  would  pass  this  way.  Do  you 
believe  that  he  will  pass  this  way? 

FIRST  GIRL 
He  passes  all  ways. 

SECOND  GIRL 
[Still  breathing  quickly.] 
I  ran  to  meet  Life. 

FIRST  GIRL 
Are  you  not  afraid  of  him? 

SECOND  GIRL 
Yes.     That  is  why  I  ran  to  meet  him. 

FIRST  GIRL 
[To  herself.] 
I,  too,  ran  to  meet  him. 

SECOND  GIRL 
Ah!  he  is  coming! 


28528* 


6  THE   SLAVE   WITH   TWO   FACES 

FIRST  GIRL 

No.  It  is  only  the  little  quarreling  words  of  the 
leaves,  and  the  winds  that  are  always  urging  them 
to  go  away. 

SECOND  GIRL 
The  leaves  do  not  go. 

FIRST  GIRL 
Some  day  they  will  go.    And  that  the  wind  knows. 

FIRST  GIRL 
Why  are  you  not  wearing  your  crown? 

SECOND  GIRL 
Why  should  we  wear  crowns? 

[She  places  the  crown  upon  her  head.] 

FIRST  GIRL 
Do  you  not  know? 

SECOND  GIRL 
No. 

FIRST  GIRL 

That  is  all  of  wisdom — the  wearing  of  crowns 
before  the  eyes  of  Life. 

SECOND  GIRL 

I  do  not  understand  you. 

FIRST  GIRL 

Few  understand  wisdom — even  those  who  need  it 
most — 

SECOND  GIRL 
He  is  coming!    I  heard  a  sound. 

FIRST  GIRL 

It  was  only  the  sound  of  a  petal  dreaming  that  it 
had  fallen  from  the  rose-tree. 

SECOND  GIRL 
I  have  waited — 


MARY    CAROLYN    DAVIES  7 

FIRST  GIRL 

We  all  long  for  him.  We  cry  out  to  him.  When 
he  comes,  he  hurts  us,  he  tortures  us.  He  kills  us. 
Unless  we  know  the  secret. 

SECOND  GIRL 

What  is  the  secret? 

FIRST  GIRL 

That  he  is  a  slave.  He  pretends !  He  pretends  1 
But  always  he  knows  in  his  heart  that  he  is  a 
slave.  Only  of  those  who  have  learned  his  secret 
is  he  afraid. 

SECOND  GIRL 
Tell  me  more! 

FIRST  GIRL 

Over  those  who  are  afraid  of  him  he  is  a  tyrant. 
He  obeys — Kings  and  Queens  ! 

SECOND  GIRL 
Then  that— 

FIRST  GIRL 

— Is  why  we  must  never  let  him  see  us  without 
our  crowns ! 

SECOND  GIRL 
How  do  you  know  these  things? 

FIRST  GIRL 

They  were  told  me  by  an  old  wise  man,  who  sits 
outside  the  gate  of  our  town. 

SECOND  GIRL 

How  did  he  know?  Because  he  was  one  of  those 
who  are  kings? 

FIRST  GIRL 
No.    Because  he  was  one  of  those  who  are  afraid. 

SECOND  GIRL 

[Dreamily.] 
I  have  heard  that  Life  is  very  beautiful.    Is  he  so? 


8  THE   SLAVE   WITH   TWO   FACES 

I  have  heard  also  that  he  is  supremely  ugly;  that 
his  mouth  is  wide  and  grinning,  that  his  eyes  slant, 
and  his  nostrils  are  thick.  Is  he  so? — or  is  he — 
very  beautiful? 

FIRST  GIRL 

Perhaps  you  will  see — for  yourself — 
Ah ! 

SECOND  GIRL 

[As  Life  saunters  into  view  at  the  farthest 
bend  of  the  path.  He  walks  like  a  con 
queror.  But  there  is  something  ugly  in 
his  appearance.  Life  sees  the  girls  just 
as  a  sudden  sun-ray  catches  the  jewels 
of  their  crowns.  He  cringes  and  walks 
like  a  hunchback  slave.  He  is  beautiful 
now.] 

FIRST  GIRL 
He  has  seen  our  crowns ! 

SECOND  GIRL 
Ah! 

FIRST  GIRL 

Remember !  You  are  only  safe — as  long  as  you 
remain  his  master.  Never  forget  that  he  is  a 
slave,  and  that  you  are  a  queen. 

SECOND  GIRL 

[To  herself.]  • 
I  must  never  let  him  see  me  without  my  crown. 

FIRST  GIRL 
Hush!    He  is  coming! 

SECOND  GIRL 
He  is  very  beautiful — 

FIRST  GIRL 
While  he  is  a  slave. 

SECOND  GIRL 
[Not  hearing.] 
He  is — very  beautiful — 


MARY    CAROLYN    DAVIES  9 

FIRST  GIRL 
Lifel 

[Life  bows  to  the  ground  at  her  feet.] 

SECOND  GIRL 
[In  delight.] 
Ah! 

FIRST  GIRL 

Life,  I  would  have  opals  on  a  platter. 
[Life  bows  in  assent.] 

SECOND  GIRL 
Oh-h! 

FIRST  GIRL 
And  pearls ! 

[Life  bows.] 

SECOND  GIRL 
Ah! 

FIRST  GIRL 

And   a   little  castle   set   within  a  hedge. 
[Life  bows.] 

SECOND  GIRL 
Yes- 

FIRST  GIRL 

I  would  have  a  fair  prince  to  think  tinkling  words 
about  me.  And  I  would  have  a  strawberry  tart, 
with  little  flutings  in  the  crust.  Go,  see  that  these 
things  are  made  ready  for  me. 

[Life  bows  in  assent  and  turns  to  go.] 

SECOND  GIRL 
Ah! 

FIRST  GIRL 

See?  It  is  so  that  one  must  act.  It  is  thus  one 
must  manage  him.  So  and  not  otherwise  it  is 
done.  Now — do  you  try. 

[She  plucks  rose  from  bush  beside  her,  and 
twirls  it  in  her  fingers.] 


10      THE  SLAVE  WITH  TWO  FACES 

SECOND  GIRL 
Life! 

[Life  kneels.] 
I  have  a  wish  for  a  gown  of  gold. 

[Life  bows.] 

FIRST  GIRL 
Yes! 

[And  over  his  bowed  head,  the  two  laugh 
gaily  at  the  ease  of  his  subjection.] 

SECOND  GIRL 

And  a  little  garden  where  I  may  walk  and  think 
of  trumpets  blowing. 
[Life  bows.] 

SECOND  GIRL 
It  is  a  good  rule. 

FIRST  GIRL 

[Calling  slave  back  as  he  is  leaving.] 
I  have  a  wish  for  a  gray  steed. 

[Life  bows.] 

Bring  me  a  little  page,  too.     With  golden  hair. 
And  with  a  dimple. 

[Life  acquiesces,  and  starts  to  leave.] 

FIRST  GIRL 

[Calling  him  back  with  a  gesture.] 
Life!     [An   important  after-thought]    With   two 
dimples ! 

SECOND  GIRL 

And   an  amber  necklace!      Bring  me  an   amber 
necklace ! 

.     FIR3T  GIRL 
[Tossing    away     the    rose    she    has    just 

plucked.] 
And  a  fresh  rose. 

[Life  bows;  turns  to  obey.  The  two  are 
convulsed  with  mirth  at  the  adventure 
and  its  success.] 


MARY    CAROLYN    DAVIES  11 

FIRST  GIRL 
Life! 

[Life  halts.] 

SECOND  GIRL 
What  are  you  going  to  do? 

FIRST  GIRL 
Come  here ! 

[Life  comes  to  her.  With  a  quick  tnove- 
nent  she  snatches  one  of  the  gold 
chains  from  about  his  neck.] 

SECOND  GIRL 
[Frightened.]    How  can  you  dare? 

FIRST  GIRL 
What  you  see  you  must  take. 

[She  seizes  his  wrist  and  pulls  from  it  a 
bracelet.] 

SECOND  GIRL 
[Frightened.]    Ah ! 

FIRST  GIRL 
Go! 

[Exit  Life.] 

SECOND  GIRL 
But  why — 

FIRST  GIRL 

He  does  not  like  beggars,  Life.    You  see,  he  is  a 
slave  himself. 

SECOND  GIRL 
He  is  so  beautiful. 

FIRST  GIRL 

Do  not  forget  that  he  is  your  slave.  .  .  .  This  rose 
bush  [Touches  it]  is  a  queen  who  forgot 

SECOND  GIRL 
Ah! 


12  THE   SLAVE  WITH  TWO   FACES 

FIRST  GIRL 
[Pointing    to    bones    that   seemed   part   of 

bushes  along  roadside.] 
Those  are  the  bones  of  others  who  forgot. 

SECOND  GIRL 
But  he  is  beautiful ! 

FIRST  GIRL 
Only  so  long  as  you  are  his  master. 

SECOND  GIRL 
But  he  is  kind ! 

FIRST  GIRL 
Only  so  long  as  you  are  not  afraid  of  him. 

SECOND  GIRL 
But  you  snatched — 

FIRST  GIRL 

Life  is  the  only  person  to  whom  one  should  be 
rude. 

[They  hear  sounds  of  moaning  and  cries 
and  a  harsh  voice  menacing  some  un 
seen  crowd.] 

SECOND  GIRL 
What  is  that? 

FIRST  GIRL 
Come !    We  must  not  be  seen ! 

[Pulls  her  companion  behind  bush  at  side  of 
stage.] 

SECOND  GIRL 
What  will  be  done  to  us  ? 

FIRST  GIRL 

Hush!      If  he  should  see  you!      He  is   always 
watching  for  the  first  sign  of  fear. 

SECOND  GIRL 

What  is  the  first  sign  of  fear? 


MARY    CAROLYN    DAVIES  13 

FIRST  GIRL 
It  is  a  thought— 

SECOND  GIRL 
But  can  he  see  one's  thoughts — 
FIRST  GIRL 
Only  thoughts  of  fear. 

SECOND  GIRL 
If  one  hides  them  well  even  from  oneself? 

FIRST  GIRL 

Even  then.  But  words  are  more  dangerous  still. 
If  we  say  we  are  afraid  we  will  be  more  afraid, 
because  whatever  we  make  into  words  makes  itself 
into  our  bodies. 

VOICES  OFF  STAGE 
Oh,  master ! 
Mercy,  master! 

FIRST  GIRL 

It  spoils  him,  this  cringing.  It  spoils  a  good  serv 
ant.  As  long  as  he  is  kept  in  his  place — 

[A  man  enters  and  kneels,  looking  at  Life 
off  stage,  in  fear.} 

FIRST  GIRL 
[Steals  to  man  and  says:] 

But  he  is  only  a  slave.  Do  you  not  see  that  he  is 
a  slave? 

MAN 

How  can  you  say  that?  Look  at  his  terrible  face. 
Who  that  has  seen  his  face  can  doubt  that  he  is 
a  master,  and  a  cruel  one? 

FIRST  GIRL 
He  cannot  be  a  master  unless  you  make  him  so. 

MAN 
What  is  this  that  you  are  saying?    Is  it  true? 


14  THE   SLAVE   WITH   TWO   FACES 

FIRST  GIRL 

Yes,  it  is  true.     Even  though  it  can  be  put  into 
words,  it  is  true. 

MAN 

[Starts  to  rise,  sinks  to  knees  again.] 
Yes.    I  see  that  it  is  true.     But  go  away. 

FIRST  GIRL 

[Crouching  behind  bush  again.] 
Ah! 

[Life  crosses  the  stage,  with  a  whip  of  many 
thongs  driving  a  huddled  throng  of  half 
crouching  men  and  women.  They  kneel 
and  kiss  his  robe.  His  mouth  is  wide 
and  grinning,  his  eyes  slant,  his  nostrils 
are  thick.  He  is  hideous.] 

LIFE 

You!  Give  me  your  ideals.  Three  ideals!  Is 
that  all  you  have? 

YOUNG  MAN 
Life  has  robbed  me  of  my  ideals. 

WORKMAN 
He  robbed  me  too. 

YOUNG  MAN 
But  I  had  so  few. 

WORKMAN 

When  you  have  toiled  to  possess  more,  he  will 
take  those  from  you  also. 

LIFE 

[To  an  old  man.] 

For  twelve  hours  you  shall  toil  at  what  you  hate. 
For  an  hour  you  shall  work  at  what  you  love,  to 
keep  the  wound  fresh,  to  make  the  torture  keener. 

OLD  MAN 

Ah,  pity !  Do  not  be  so  cruel ! .  Let  me  forget  the 
work  I  love! 


MARY    CAROLYN    DAVIES  15 

LIFE 

Dog !    Take  what  I  give  you !    It  is  not  by  begging 
that  you  may  win  anything  from  me  1 

A  VOICE 

Give  me  a  dream!     A  dream  to  strengthen  my 
hands ! 

ANOTHER  VOICE 
A  little  love  to  make  the  day  less  terrible! 

THIRD  VOICE 

Only  rest,  a  little  rest !  Time  to  think  of  the  sea, 
and  of  grasses  blowing  in  the  wind. 

A  WOMAN 
Master ! 

[Life  lashes  her  with  his  whip.  The  woman 
screams.  Life  draws  back  from  them, 
and  dances  a  mocking  dance,  dancing 
himself  into  greater  fury,  laughing  ter 
ribly,  he  lashes  out  at  them.  Several 
fall  dead.  He  chokes  a  cripple  with  his 
hands.  Finally  he  drives  them  off  the 
stage  before  him,  several  furtively  drag 
ging  the  bodies  with  them.] 

SECOND  GIRL 
[As    the    two    emerge    from    their    hiding 

place.] 
Oh!    I  wish  never  to  see  his  face  as  they  saw  it! 

FIRST  GIRL 

You  will  not,  unless  you  kneel — never  kneel,  little 
queen. 

SECOND  GIRL 

I  shall  never  kneel  to  Life.  I  shall  stand  upright, 
as  you  have  taught  rne,  and  I  shall  say,  "Bring  me 
another  necklace,  Life — " 


16       THE  SLAVE  WITH  TWO  FACES 

FIRST  GIRL 

I  must  go  now  for  a  little  while.     I  shall  come 
back.    Do  not  forget. 
[She  goes  out.] 

SECOND  GIRL 

I  shall  say — 

[Life's  voice  is  heard  off  stage.  Second 
Girl  cowers.  Life  enters.] 

SECOND  GIRL 

Slave !    I  would  have  the  chain  with  the  red  stone  1 
[As     Life     submissively     approaches,     she 

snatches  it  from  his  neck.] 
And  this  1 

[Snatching  at  his  hand  and  pulling  the  ring 
from  a  finger.  The  slave  bows.  She 
happens  to  look  toward  the  spot  where 
the  bodies  were,  and  shivers.] 

LIFE 

[Raising  his  head  in  time  to  see  the  look  of 
horror.     From  this  moment  his  aspect 
gradually  changes  until  from  the  slave 
he  becomes  a  tyrant.] 
Are  you  afraid  of  me? 

SECOND  GIRL 
No. 

LIFE 
There  are  many  who  are  afraid  of  me. 

SECOND  GIRL 
You  are  a  slave. 

LIFE 
There  are  many  who  are  afraid. 

SECOND  GIRL 
Yo.u  are  only  a  slave. 


MARY    CAROLYN    DAVIES  17 

LIFE 
A  slave  may  become  a  master. 

SECOND  GIRL 
No. 

LIFE 
I  may  become — 

SECOND  GIRL 
You  are  my  slave. 

LIFE 
If  I  were  your  master — 

SECOND  GIRL 
You  are  a  slave. 

LIFE 

If  I  were  your  master,  I  would  be  kind  to  you. 
You  are  beautiful. 

SECOND  GIRL 
Ah! 

LIFE 
You  are  very  beautiful. 

SECOND  GIRL 
It  is  my  crown  that  makes  me  beautiful. 

LIFE 

If  you  should  take  your  crown  from  your  head, 
you  would  still  be  beautiful. 

SECOND  GIRL 
That  I  will  not  do. 

LIFE 

You  are  beautiful  as  the  slight  burning  of  the 
apple-petal's  cheek  when  the  sun  glances  at  the 
great  flowers  near  it.  You  are  beautiful  as  the 
little  pool  far  in  the  forest  which  holds  lily-buds 
in  its  hands.  You  are  beautiful— 


18  THE   SLAVE  WITH  TWO   FACES 

SECOND  GIRL 
[Aside.] 

I  think  he  wants  me  to  be  afraid,  so  I  will  say  it. 
I  have  heard  that  men  are  like  that.  I  am  not 
afraid,  but  I  will  say  it  to  please  him. 

LIFE 
Are  you  afraid  of  me? 

SECOND  GIRL 
Yes. 

LIFE 
Are  you  afraid? 

SECOND  GIRL 
Yes,  I  am  afraid. 

LIFE 
Ah,  that  pleases  me. 

SECOND  GIRL 
[Aside.] 

I  knew  that  I  would  be  able  to  please  him !   What 
ever    I   make   into   words   makes    itself    into   my 
body,  she  said,  like  fear— but  she  does  not  know 
everything !    It  is  impossible  that  she  should  know 
everything !    And  it  is  so  pleasant  to  please  him — 
And  so  easy!     I  am  not  afraid  of  him.     I  have 
only  said  that  I  am  afraid. 
LIFE 
Will  you  not  take  your  crown  from  your  head? 

SECOND  GIRL 
No. 

LIFE 

There  is  nothing  so  beautiful  as  a  woman's  hair 
flying  in  the  wind.  I  can  see  your  hair  beneath 
your  crown.  Your  hair  would  be  beautiful  fly 
ing  in  the  wind. 

SECOND  GIRL 
[Removes  crown.] 
It  is  only  for  a  moment. 


MARY    CAROLYN    DAVIES  19 

LIFE 
Yes,  you  are  beautiful. 

SECOND  GIRL 

[To  herself.] 
It  may  be  that  I  was  not  wise — 

LIFE 

You  are  like  a  new  flower  opening,  and  dazzling 
a  passing  bird  with  sudden  color. 

SECOND  GIRL 

She  said  that  I  must  not — 

LIFE 

You  are  like  the  bird  that  passes.    Your  hair  lifts 
like  wings  in  the  sun. 

SECOND  GIRL 

He  has  not  harmed  me. 

LIFE 

Your   crown    is    like   jewels    gathered    from   old 
galleons  beneath  the  sea.    May  I  see  your  crown? 

SECOND  GIRL 

[Holds  it  out  cautiously  toward  him,  then 
changes  her  mind.] 

NO- 
LIFE 

Let  me  hold  it  in  my  fingers.    I  shall  give  it  back 
to  you. 

SECOND  GIRL 
No. 

LIFE 
I  shall  give  it  back. 

SECOND  GIRL 
If  you  will  surely  give  it  back  to  me — 

LIFE 

[Takes  crown.] 
But  your  hair  is  lovelier  without  a  crown. 

[Flings  it  from  him.] 


20      THE  SLAVE  WITH  TWO  FACES 

SECOND  GIRL 
What  have  you  done? 

LIFE 
It  was  only  in  jest. 

SECOND  GIRL 
But  you  promised — 

LIFE 
In  jest. 

SECOND  GIRL 
But— 

LIFE 

Ho-ho!     Laugh  with  me.    What  a  jest! 

SECOND  GIRL 
[Laughs,   then  shivers.] 

LIFE 

[In  high  good  humor  with  himself.] 
Dance  for  me.    You  are  young.    You  are  happy. 
Dance ! 

SECOND  GIRL 
What  shall  my  dance  say? 

LIFE 

That  it  is  Spring,  and  that  there  are  brooks  flow 
ing,  newly  awakened  and  mad  to  be  with  the  sea. 
That  there  is  a  white  bud  widening  under  the 
moon,  and  in  a  curtained  room  a  young  girl 
sleeping.  That  the  sun  has  wakened  her— 

SECOND  GIRL 

[Dances  these  things.    At  first  she  is  afraid 
of   him,   then  she   forgets   and   dances 
with  abandon.] 
And  now  give  me  back  my  crown. 

LIFE 
You  do  not  need  a  crown,  pretty  one. 

SECOND  GIRL 
I  am  afraid  of  you! 


MARY    CAROLYN    DAVIES  21 

LIFE 
Afraid  of  mel     What  have  I  done? 

SECOND  GIRL 
I  do  not  know. 

LIFE 
Do  not  be  afraid. 

SECOND  GIRL 
I  am  afraid. 

LIFE 

I  shall  be  a  kind  master  to  you. 
SECOND  GIRL 
Master  ? 

LIFE 
A  kind  master. 

SECOND  GIRL 
You  are  my  slave. 

LIFE 

I  shall  never  be  your  slave  again. 
SECOND  GIRL 
And  if  she  were  right?    If  it  is  true? 

LIFE 
What  are  you  saying? 

SECOND  GIRL 
Nothing— 

LIFE 
You  must  call  me  master. 

SECOND  GIRL 
No.    That  I  will  not  do. 

LIFE 

[Leering  at  her.] 
Call  me  master.     Then  I  shall  be  kind  to  you. 

SECOND  GIRL 
No.     I  can  not. 

LIFE 
[Picks  up  his  whip  from  the  path,  toying 

with  the  whip  but  laughing  to  her.] 
Then  I  shall  be  kind. 


22  THE   SLAVE   WITH   TWO   FACES 

SECOND  GIRL 
Master— 

LIFE 
It  has  a  good  sound. 

SECOND  GIRL 
You  will  give  me — 

LIFE 
Greedy  one !    Be  grateful  that  I  do  not  punish  you. 

SECOND  GIRL 
You  would  not  strike  me? 

LIFE 
If  you  do  not  obey — 

SECOND  GIRL 

[Whispering,] 
You  would  not  strike — 

LIFE 
You  must  kneel. 

SECOND  GIRL 
[Repeating.] 
Never  kneel,  little  queen — 

LIFE 
You  must  kneel  to  me. 

SECOND  GIRL 
No. 

LIFE 

[Raising  the  whip  as  if  to  strike.] 
On  your  knees  !    Slave  I 

SECOND  GIRL 

You  were  kind !    Life,  you  were  kind  !    You  said 
beautiful  words  to  me. 

LIFE 
Kneel. 

SECOND  GIRL 
You  would  be  always  kind,  you  said — 

LIFE 
Will  you  obey? 


MARY    CAROLYN    DAVIES  23 

SECOND  GIRL 
I  shall  never — 

[Life  curls  his  whip  around  her  shoulders.] 

SECOND  GIRL 
[Screams.] 

Do  not  flog  me.    I  will  kneel. 
[Kneels.] 

LIFE 
So?    In  that  way  I  can  win  obedience. 

SECOND  GIRL 
Master ! 

LIFE 
It  has  a  good  sound. 

SECOND  GIRL 
Pity  1    Have  pity  ! 

LIFE 
Do  not  whine. 

[Kicks  her.] 

SECOND  GIRL 
[Rises  staggering.] 
Spare  me! 

LIFE 

I  shall  beat  you,  for  the  cries  of  those  who  fear 
me  are  sweet  in  my  ears. 
[Beats  her.] 

SECOND  GIRL 
Master ! 

LIFE 

[Flinging  aside  whip.] 
But  sweeter  yet  are  stilled  cries — 

[He  seises  her,  they  struggle.] 

SECOND  GIRL 
He  is  too  strong — I  can  struggle  no  longer! 

[They  struggle.  Life  chokes  her  to  death 
and  flings  her  body  from  him.  Then, 
laughing  horribly  he  goes  off  the  stage.} 

FIRST  GIRL 

[Enters  skipping  merrily.     Singing.} 
Heigho,  in  April, 


24  THE   SLAVE   WITH   TWO   FACES 


Heigho,  heigho, 
All  the  town  in  April 

Is  gay,  is  gay! 
[She  plucks  rose  from  bush.] 
Heigho,  in  April, 

In  merry,  merry  April, 
Love  came  a-riding 
And  of  a  sunny  day 
I  met  him  on  the  way ! 
Heigho,  in  April, 

Heigho,  heigho — 

[Suddenly  seeing  the  body,  she  breaks  the 

song,  and  stares  without  moving.    Then 

she  goes  very  slowly  toward  it,  smooths 

down  the  dead  girl's  dress,  and  kneels 

beside  the  body.    Whispers.] 

She  was  young  .   .    .  he  is  cruel  .   .   .    [Touches 

the  body.]     She  also  was  a  queen.     She  snatched 

his  trinkets.     See,  there  on  her  dead  neck  is  his 

chain  with  the  red  fire  caught  in  gold.     And  on 

her  finger  his  ring.    But  he  was  too  strong  .    .   . 

too  strong.  .    .    .    [She  stands,  trembles,  cowering 

in  terror.]     Life  has  broken  her  .    .    .   Life  has 

broken  them  all.    .    .    .    Some  day   ...    I   am 

afraid  .    .    . 

[Life  enters,  still  the  ugly  tyrant.  She  re 
mains  cowering.  His  eyes  rove  slowly 
over  the  stage,  but  she  sees  him  a  sec 
ond  before  he  discovers  her.  She 
straightens  up  just  in  time  to  be  her 
scornful  self  before  his  eyes  light  upon 
her.  As  she  speaks  Life  becomes  the 
slave  again.] 

FIRST  GIRL 
[Carelessly  flings  rose  down  without  seeing 

that  it  has  fallen  upon  the  body.] 
Life!     Bring  me  a  fresh  rose! 

[The  Slave  bows  abjectly  and  goes  to  do 
her  bidding.] 

CURTAIN. 


i 


THIS  BOOK  IS  DUE  ON  THE  LAST  DATE 
STAMPED  BELOW 


AN  INITIAL  FINE  OF  25  CENTS 

WILL.  BE  ASSESSED  FOR  FAILURE  TO  RETURN 
THI3  BOOK  ON  THE  DATE  DUE.  THE  PENALTY 
WILL  INCREASE  TO  SO  CENTS  ON  THE  FOURTH 
DAY  AND  TO  $1.OO  ON  THE  SEVENTH  DAY 
OVERDUE. 


OCT    2  1934 


QCT 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


